pancake sisters

3 Rue Lucien Sampaix, Paris

As a break from university final year stresses, a friend and I decided to take a break from our overheated, stuffy library and brave the fresh air to go somewhere new for lunch. This little hangout near to Republique has been on my radar for sometime and so we decided to check it out. Through the dreary wet Parisian streets, this yellow cafe was a ray of sunlight, and so we dived in, and very excitedly consulted the menu. Inside, it is very simple and cosy, and there is a lovely atmosphere, definitely the kind of place to go for lunch with girlfriends, its very cute and run by two lovely ladies, who are very friendly. As the name suggests, its all about the pancakes in here! We decided to go for the 12 euro lunch formule, which consisted of a savoury pancake sandwich, a drink and a sweet pancake dessert. I must admit, though we could have eaten a bit more, the food was absolutely delicious, in particular the pancake sandwich which was just to die for! They also do brunch which, if you have a look around on instagram, looks amazing, and they also do late night opening on a Thursday for evening meals. I will definitely be going back here again, but I won't rush back on an empty stomach.

Keep an eye out for... ask for your savoury sandwich to be toasted!

http://www.pancakesisters.com/

le cafe lomi

3ter rue Marcadet, Paris.

If you're around the north of Paris and looking for a small cafe to take a breather, then this is the place. It is located in the 18th, tucked away far from the tourist trap of the sacré coeur , near metro Marcadet Poissonniers. Inside, it has a really nice, chilled out vibe, the music is really good and plenty of people making use of the free wifi on laptops. It can get quite busy, but I think it adds to the atmosphere of the place as it encourages table sharing, something which I love in a cafe as it feels so open and communal. Also a great way to listen in to french conversations and pick out what you can! The cafe is renowned for its great coffee, sadly i'm not a coffee fan, but I can say that the hot chocolate is a great alternative; they also offer a range of freshly squeezed juices and a selection of teas. The chocolate cake was also divine. They offer lunch between 12 and 3 which varies daily, with a choice of salad, tart or quiche.. they also looked amazing. 

Keep an eye out for... its got to be the chocolate cake. 

http://www.cafelomi.com/

merci.

111 boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris.

Merci has been on my to-do list for ages, so I was so happy to finally go in not so long ago. It cannot be defined as a 'shop', as I think it is more of an experience, with so many parts to explore. The entrance to the shop itself is wedged between two of its three cafes, and walking through the archway you find yourself in a delightful courtyard, with their iconic red fiat 500 in front of you. Continuing through the door there is a wonderful mix of clothing, jewellerey, home and beauty products, all of which are completely different to what you might see on the high street. They have three cafes for you to choose between after your shop - the used book cafe; the merci canteen; and the cinema cafe. I visited the used book cafe and I was not disappointed - the staff were so helpful and the food and drinks were delicious. 

Keep an eye out for... the beauty department - they have plenty of testers which all smell amazing and look so sleek lined up on the shelves. 

http://www.merci-merci.com/fr/

a week on the rue des martyrs - sunday

Kooka Boora (KB Cafeshop)

This amazing little cafe is located towards the north of rue des martyrs, at the junction with avenue trudaine, and I love it! The atmosphere inside is perfect - there are cosy window seats, and cushioned wooden seats, which are so comfy. It is a very bustling place, which adds to the great ambiance and general feel. They offer a great variety of hot drinks, including a great choice of teas and coffees and also offering fresh fruit juice. As well as this, their cake selection is all too tempting! But try the cookies, they are worth every penny! The staff (who speak english) are so friendly and happy to chat too. All this is happening to a great music playlist.... could it get any better?! 

53, avenue Trudaine, 75009